Method of and apparatus for removing or dissipating static electricity from paper, cloth, yarn, &amp;c.



. A. G. HEIN Y. METHOD 0 AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING 0RDISSIP-ATING'STATIG ELECTRICITY FROM PAPER,

- CLOTH, YARN, m. APPLICATION FILED APBul'l, 1909. RENEWED SEPT. 17,1913,

9,'?99. Patented June 9, 1914.

a snnnws snnmr 1.

A. G. HEINY. METHOD .01" AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING 0R DISSIPATINGSTATIC ELECTRICITY FROM PAPER,

CLOTH, YARN, m. APPLICATION FILED APB-.14, 19 09. RENEWED SEPT;.:17,1913.

1,099,799. Patented June 9,1914.

3 SHBBTSSHEET 2.'

PROM PAPER,

7 A. a flEINY. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING 0R DISSIPATINGSTATIC ELECTRICITY CLOTH, YARN, 6. APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 190E].RENEWED SEPT. 17, 1913 Patented June 9, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

[NVE/VTOR UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ANATOLE C. HEINY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING OR DISSIPATING STATIC ELECTRICITYFROM PAPER, CLOTH, YARN, &c.

Application filed April 14, 1909, Serial lief 189,951

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANATOLE C. HEINY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus forRemoving or Dissipating Static Electricity from Paper, Cloth, Yarn, &c.,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a methodof and apparatus for removing the staticelectricity from paper, cloth, yarn, or other substances, with whichduring their manufacture or subsequent, manipulation they at timesbecome charged. Many methods have been proposed and some adopted foreffecting the removal of this electricity, and these have been-attendedwith more or less suc cess. I have demonstrated that by means of theapparatus, and by following the method, herein described, anelectrically chargeddielectric substance, such as a sheet of paper, maybe quickly, easily, and permanently, diselectrified, or have its chargeof electricity removed or dissipated.

It is well known that whenever a current of electricity flows along aconductor forming a closed circuit there is produced around it amagnetic field; but, when the conductor or conductors are connected withthe terminals of the secondary of an induction coil, through whoseprimary alternations of high frequency are passing, there is producedaround them an alternating electro-static field, the intensity of whichis dependent on the strength of the primary current and to a certaindegree on the frequency of alternations of said current.

I have discovered that, if a dielectric charged With electricity, bebrought into an alternating electro-static field, such as justdescribed,'and that, previous to its removal therefrom, the field begradually suppressed, the-dielectric loses, .during this period, muchornearlyall of its electric charge;

' and tl1at"the-removal or dissipation of the electricity is-more nearlycomplete than 1se case when the electrified body is removed from such afield while its full strength is maintained. I have also discovered thatif, in addition to coming into an electrostatic field,

the intensity or strength of which is gradually brought from its highesttens1on to or verv near the null point, as above sald, the electricallySpecification of Letters Patent.

- ways travels Patented June 9, 1914.

Renewed September 17, 1913, Serial No. 790,351.

charged dielectric comes into direct contact fivith the conductors orterminals of the above mentioned secondary, then its charge ofelectricity is even more reduced than when there is not such directcontact, because it will be removed by a conductive discharge similar tothat which takes place when a Leyden jar or condenser is dis charged.And "have further .discovered that the best results in the dischargingof paper, yarns, &c., are obtained by changing the ordinary alternatingelectro-static field for anvinterrupted alternating electro-staticfield, 2T. 6., an alternating electrostatic field the alternatingperiods'of which are separateg by periods of no intensity or no field ata The principles of operation just stated are carried out in the processand by means of the apparatus forming the subject of this case.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure l is a diagram illustrating theprinciple and method of operation of the invention as applied to theflies of a set of printing presses for the purpose of removing staticelectricity from the sheets of paper delivered to the said flies. Figs.2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating systems somewhat different from thatshown in Fig. 1 but embodying the invention. Fig. Lis a sectional Viewtaken on the line IVIV of Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate two differentmethods of applying the conductors to the fly sticks.

In the drawings A represents the delivery fly of a printing presscomprising a rock shaft (4 and sticks or fingers a, the latter beingformed of material that may serve as a series of parallel electricconductors, or of non-conducting material to which are secured bareconductors as indicated in Figs. l, 5 and 6, that represented in Fig. 5being the preferred arrangement.

The fly stick conductors, either the fly sticks themselves or conductorscarried thereby, are connected with a conductor'adapted to be chargedwith a current of very high voltage but low amperage, and theconnections may be either such as illustrated in Fig. 3 where all of thesticks are connected with the same leadfof the conductor so thatwhenever a current passes along them it alin the same direction in allthe fingers, or as illustrated in the other views where the alternatefly sticks are'connected with the opposite leads of the circuit so thatthe electric current in adjacent fly sticks conductors are connected maybe connected with any suitable generator or source of electricity, yetfor practical purposes it is desirable that the generator should be ofsuch nature as to charge the conductors with electricity of very hightension or voltage but of low amperage, and such apparatus isdiagrammatically represented in the drawings. 1

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 2 indicates a source ofelectricity such as a direct current generator from which lead the mains3 of the supply circuit. A branch 3 from the main line leads to andincludes the apparatus embodying the present invention, a switch 4 beingarranged so that the branch may be connected into the main circuit atwill. When employing a direct current of electricity, as in the systemillustrated herein, it becomes necessary to inter rupt it before it istransformed into a high tension harmlesscurrent to be directly employedfor removing the static electricity from the sheets of paper or otherarticles being treated. 4 suitably driven and arranged to break orinterrupt the flow of current in the branch 3 from eight thousand tofifteen thousand times per minute and, at each break or interruption tochange or reverse the direction of the flow of the current in that partof the branch situated beyond the said interrupter. This interrupter isdriven in any suitable manner as by a small electric motor 6 situated ina branch line 7 in which is located a rheostat 8 arranged' 'to controlthe press of which the fly A is a part.

speed of the motor and, accordingly, the frequency of the interruptionsas may be desired. A step-up transformer 12 is located between thebranch circuit 3 and a circuit 13in which are included the fiyconductors already described, the primary coil being in the branch 3 andthe secondary in the cir cuit 13. The circuit 3 is normally open andunite a set of stationary contacts 19, 19,

19" when the magnet is energized. One of these stationary contacts, 19",is the terminal of the wire 17 leading from the primary each press.

5 designates an interruptercoil of the transformer 12 and the others areterminals of branch wires 9, 9 leading respectively from the two mainsor leads of the supply circuit 3. Resistances, designated 14, 14",greater than the resistance of the primary coil of the transformer, areinterposed respectively between the branch line wires 9, 9 and theirterminal contacts 19, 19. K

The magnetic switch 10 is but one form of apparatus by means of whichthe mechanism herein described, and embodying my invention, is put intooperation only when the press itself is being driven and I do not wishto be limited to the particular means illustrated and described, as theinterrupter could be connected with some driven part of the press, fromwhich-it receives its motion, in which event the magnetic switch 10 andthe electric motor for driving the interrupter would be dispensed with,and this arrangement'in some conditions is to be desired.

In Fig. 1 I have shown an installation for three presses, illustratinghow but a single interrupter is necessary although the other parts thusfar described are duplicated for From the interrupter a conductor 15,which becomes apart of the branch circuit 3, leads to the primary coilof the transformer at each press. But in practice, whenever the cost ofinstallation is not an object of the first importance, I prefer to use aseparate interrupter for each press, driving it either by its ownindependent electric motor or by connection with some driven part of thepress with which it is associated. W

Referring to Fig. 1, when the parts are in the position thererepresented, the circuit may be traced as follows: Starting from thegenerator 2, the circuit is thence by the positive conductor of the mainsupply circuit 3, by the branch 9, the resistance 14, contacts 19, 19",the conductors 17, the priv mary coil of the transformer 12, the wire15, the interrupter 5, the brush 16 at the interrupter, and the wire ofthe branch circuit 3 connected with the main negative supply main, andby this back to the generator. It will be observed that when themagnetic switch-1O is closed the two contacts 19, 19 constituting theterminals of the branch conductors 9, 9 are united at the switch 10. Butas the resistance ofl ered to' athe flow of current by each resistance14 is considerably greater than the resistance of the primary coil ofthe transformer 12, the current takes the path traced, instead ofpassing through both resistances 14, 14. Returning to the circuitfollowed by the current it will be next supposed that the interrupter,moving engagement with the brush 16 constituting the terminal of thepositive wire of the branch 3. The circuit then is from the positivewire of the supply line, by the positive wire of the branch 3, brush 16at the end thereof, the interrupter, the conductor 15, the primary ofthe transformer, the conductor 17, the terminal contact 1% at the endthereof, the movable contact of the automatic magnetic switch, theterminal contact 19, resistance 14, and branch wire 9, to the negativewire of the supply circuit. It will thus be seen that, while a directcurrent is supplied to the" apparatus from the line 3, this current isinterrupted with great frequency, and its direction through the primarycoil of the transformer is changed at each interruption, thus producingan alternating current, but one of quite a different nature from theordinary alternating electric current in that the alternations areseparated by periods of no flowof current of a length of V 5' and 6, theconductors of the alternate fly sticks aare connected respectively withthe wires leading from the opposite ends of the secondary coil'of thetransformer. The current induced in this secondary circuit is of suchhigh potential as to produce an interrupted, alternating, electro-staticfield of an livered to the fly and are in any suitable area somewhatlarger than the area of the fly, into Which field the sheet of paperenters on being delivered upon the fly. The conductors 22 of the fly arepreferably bare wires laid upon the sticks so as to be directly engagedby the sheets of paper demanner secured to the fly sticks, severalarrangements of the. conductors belng 1nd1- cated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,so that when the sheets of paper are received upon the fly they comeinto direct engagement with the said conductors. If a sheet of papercharged with-static electricity be laid upon the fly of a press equippedwith my present in ention asdescribed, its charge of electricity isremoved, dissipated, or lost rapidly by its being subjected to theelectric influences incident to the circuit 13 being charged in the.

manner I have described. I have discovered,

however, that the removal of the static elec' tricity is more completeand perfect if the interrupted alternating electro-static fields, inwhich the sheet of paper is situated while upon the fly, be graduallyreduced in intensity until it is substantially suppressed before thesheet is removed, that is, while it is at rest relative to theconductors of the fly.

This suppression of the electric conditions to which the paper issubjected while upon the fly is conveniently accomplished by breakingthe connections of the fly conductors with the circuit 13. .Means foraccomplishing this are illustrated in Fig.4. 20 indicates stationarycontacts constituting the terminals of the circuit 13. With these engagethe movable contacts 21 mounted upon and carried by the shaft a andwhichare connected respectively with the conductors 22 carried by.'the'fly sticks a. The location of the. contacts 21 is such that theymake electrical connection with the contacts 20 when the fly is inposition to receive sheets of paper or immediately after it has begunits movement from such position, and maintain such connection for adesired length of time, that is, until the fly has been moved a certainproportion of its path of motion. Before the fly reachesa position todeliver the sheet the contacts 20, 21 separate entirely, thusintroducing into the high tension current circuit a resistance producedby an air gap between the contacts 20 and 21 which, as it increases inlength operates to gradually suppress the aforesaid electro-, staticfield. Just before the fly reaches the delivery position the contacts 21may. come into engagement with contacts 23 constitut-. ing the terminalsof a conductor or conductors 24 that are grounded. Thus when the sheetof paper is received'upon the fly it is first subjected to the electricconditions incident to the conductors 22 being highly charged, and whilestill supported upon the fly these conditions are first suppressed andthereafterthe conductors 21 are connected with the earth so that anyelectricity re-. maining in the paper is carried off thereby.

The method of mounting and supporting.

the conductors 22 upon the fly sticks may be varied as indicatedin Figs.5 and 6.

What I claim is 1. The herein described method of removing staticelectricity from a charged dielectric, which consists in bringing thesaid charged body into an electro-statlc field surrounding conductorscharged with electricity of high alternating potential, and thengradually suppressing .said electro-static field before the saiddielectric is removed from proximity to the conductors.

2'. The herein described method of removing static electricity from acharged dielectric, which consists in bringing the said charged bodyintoan electro-static field surrounding conducto-rs charged with electricityof high potential of an alternating character but having periods betweenalternations when the. conductors are not charged, and then graduallyreducing the intensity of the said field until it is substantiallysuppressed before the said dielectric is removed from proximity to theconductors.

ing static electricity from a charged dielece charged with electricityof high alternating potential, and then gradually suppressing the saidhigh tension electric charge of the conductors before the dielectric isremove from contact therewith.

4. The herein described method ofremovtric, which consists in bringingthe dielectric into the electrostatic field surrounding a series ofparallel conductors charged with electricity of high alternatingpotential, the charge being interrupted with great frequency, and thengradually suppressing the said electrostatic field, and then removingthe said dielectric from proximity to the said conductors While the saidfield is sup-' pressed. H i y 5. The herein described method oftreatment for removing static electricity from a charged dielectric,which consists in bringing the dielectric into an electrostatic fieldsurrounding a series of parallel conductors charged with electricity ofhigh alternating potential, interrupting the charge with greatfrequency, reversing the direction of movement of thecurrent in theconductors with each interruption and gradually suppressing the chargebefore the dielectric is removed.

6. The herein described method of removing static electricity from acharged dielectric, which consists in bringing the dielectric into anelectro-static field surrounding a set of parallel conductors chargedWith electricity of high potential, the charge being interrupted withgreat frequency, and the direction of the movement of the current in theconductors being reversed with each interruption, and then graduallysuppressi ing the said electro-static field before the said dielectricis removed from proximity to the said conductors,

7. Apparatus for removing static electricity from a charged dielectriccomprising a support for the dielectric, conductors arranged adjacent tothe support, means for charging the conductors with electricity ofhigh'alternating potential, and means for gradually suppressing thevcharge of elec-. tricity in the conductors while'the dielectric" is onthe said support.

8. Apparatus for removing static electric ity from a charged dielectriccomprising a support for the dielectric, the support beingformed of aseries of longitudinal parallel conductors, means for charging theconductors with electricity of high potential and interruptedalternations, and means for gradually suppressing the charge of hightension electricity in, the conductors from full intensity tosubstantially the null point while the dielectric is on the saidsupport.

9. Apparatus for removing static electricity from a charged dielectric,comprising a support for the dielectric formed of a series oflongitudinally parallel conductors, the

superficial area of which is at least equal to that of the dielectric tobe treated, means for producing an electro-static field about the saidsupport, comprising means for charging the conductors with electricityof high tension, the flow of which is rapidly interrupted and thedirection of which is changedwith each interruption, and means forgradually suppressing the said electrostatic field While the dielectricis upog the support.

ANATOLE C. HETNY.

lVitnesses :v i

J. S. BARKER, GEO. B, Prr'rs.

